Vacuum-cleaner.



J. W. SHANAHAN & F. C. MASON.

VACUUM CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. H, 1914.

Patented Apr. 10, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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IIIIII W/A J. W. SHANAHAN & F. C. MASON.

VACUUM CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILEDAUGJY. 1914.

- 1,222,477. Patented Apr. 10, 1917 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

gmuemtow F'q; m John W. Shanahan w-i imeooeo r, O francls (LMason UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN SHANAHAN AND FRANCIS C. MASON, F GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGN- ORS TO BISSELL CARPET SWEEPER COMPANY, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

. VACUUM-CLEANER.

and FRANCIS C. MASON, citizens of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids,

Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vacuum-Cleaners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in vacuum cleaners. While the improvements are here shown especially adapted to handoperated vacuum cleaners, they are also available for those which make use of the application of power.

he objects of this invention are: First to provide an improved construction of bellows supporting board and bellows guard means.

Second, to provide an improved construction of dust collecting receptacle.

Third, to provide an improved attaching means for the nozzle structure.

Fourth, to provide improved nozzle supporting means that are resilient and capable of regulation when desired.

Further objects will appear from the detailed description to follow.

We accomplish the objects of our invention b the devices and means described in the 0 lowing specification. Theainvention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure embod ing a preferred form of our invention is illly illustrated in the accompan ing drawing, forming a part of this speci cation, in Which:

Fi re I is a longitudinal vertical sectiona elevation of a vacuum cleaner embodyin our invention, taken on a line corres on ing to line 11 of Figs. II and III.

ig. II is a detail vertical sectional view taken on the irregular line 22 of Fig. I, showing the cross section of the bellows and dust receptacle and their various compartinents.

Fi III is an inverted detail plan view of the orward end of our improved vacuum cleaner. 7

Fi ,IV is a detail side elevation view of the f ront portion of our improved vacuum cleaner, showing the adjusting means for re latin the height of the nozzle and detal s of t e attaching means for the nozzle block, the axle 34 being in section online 4-4 of Fig, III.

FigTVis'an'enlarged detail sectional ele- Speciflcation of Letters Patent.

The bottom board 17 Patented Apr. 10, 1917.

Application filed August 17, 1814. Serial No. 857,134.

vation viewtaken on a. line corresponding to line 5-5 of Fig. III, showing the supporting rods and the equalizer means for the carryin wheels.

Fig. I is a detail perspective view of the dust collecting receptacle removed from the vacuum cleaner, showing the arrangement of the handle to the closing door to serve as a guard between the dust collecting recep tacle and the bellows.

Fig. VII is an enlarged detail view of one of the attaching hooks for attaching the nozzle, showing the eccentric for operating the same.

Fig. VIII is an inverted detail plan view of a modified structure, corresponding to the view illustrated in Fig. III, showing adjustability withthe yielding spring feature omitted.

Fig. IX is a detail sectional elevation'view taken on a line corresponding to line 99 of Fig. VIII, showing the said adjustable carrying wheel structure.

Fig. X is a detail sectional elevation view taken on a line corresponding to line 10-1O of Fig. VIII, showing the adjusting arm at that point. i

Fig. XI is a detail, view of a modified form of the spring for holding the nozzle carrying wheels yieldingly in position.

In the drawing, sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines, and similar numerals of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

drawing, our improved vacuum cleaner is inclosed in a general casing 1 provided with comparatively thick sides 2, 2 which serve to support the remaining parts. The-usual handle 2*.is provided. Carrying and driving wheels 3, 3 are disposed toward the rear of the same and are secured to crank axle 4 which is journalcd in supporting blocks 4' (see Fig. I), and is connected by pitmen 5 to the arms 6 of a series of bellows 7, preferably three in number. The blocks 4 are secured by screws 4" or in any other way.

of the bellows is retained in place on the, top 14 ofv the dust collecting receptacle box by upwardly pointing screws 15 through said top.

he box or compartment for the dust collecting receptacle, is disposed below the bel'; lows chamber, and is made knockdown or sides 12 and the end 10.

From this description it will be seen that the entire structure is accessible by withdrawing the screws 9. The bottom board 8 may then be removed when the lateral screws through the sides and ends may be withdrawn and the upwardly pointing screws 15 may be withdrawn and the dust receptacle box removed. The top 14 may then be detached, if it is desired to cornpletely disassemble the top, by withdrawing screws 14. Also, if made in thisway, the parts are very readily and securely assembled by screws, glue joints being avoided thereby, and a structure that can be readily taken apart for inspection and repairs is produced.

\Ve provide the top board 14 on its underside with longitudinal grooves 16 leading to the openings to the bellows intake valves. These serve a very useful purpose in giving air clearance for the dust collecting receptacle. The parts between the grooves are in effect ribs to hold the dust collecting fabric out of contact with the bellows board.

The nozzle block 18 is made detachable, and is provided with passage 19 delivering into the dust collecting receptacle. The dust collecting receptacle is made up of a frame comprising side bars 20, 20 formed with inwardly projecting flanges 21 to stiffen and strengthen the same. These are secured by suitable means to the detachable nozzle block 18. A dust filtering fabric is disposed around the same and is preferably quite taut. At the inner end of the frwne is a door 23 with hinges 24 on a suitable door frame 24 for the discharge opening. A handle 25 consisting of an elongated bail or loop is secured to the door 24 and is disposed on top of the filtering fabric 22 of the dust collecting receptacle and holds the same down away from the bellows to insure full action of the partial vacuum formed thereby. A suitable snap catch 25' is provided for retaining the door in its closed position.

The nozzle block to which the dust collect ing receptacle is attached is detachably secured in place by the hooks 26 at each side, each of which is carried on an eccentric 28 which is pivoted on a pin 29 on a plate 30. Each hook 26 engages a pin 27 on theeorresponding side of the casing. Each plate 30 is retained in place on the ends of the noz- 'in Fig. XI a coiled spring BEST AVAILABLE 210 block 18 by screws 31, 31. A handle 32 is provided for turnin each eccentric 28 to actuate the corresponding hook 26 and draw the nozzle block tightly into position against a suitable'gaskct to make an air ti ht oint.

The front end of our improve vacuum cleaner is carried on wheels 33. 33 at the sides thereof, which are journaled on the opposite ends of the rod 34. An adjustin' lever 35 is secured on the opposite ends 0 the rock shaft 36, which is carried -h little brackets 37 secured to the op osite si es 2 of the caseby screws 38 (see ig. IV). This adjustment is accom lishedby the pin 39 carried by the end 0 the lever 35 which is adjustable in holes 40 in the plate 41 which is secured to the sides of the case by screws 42, 42. Rock shaft arms 43 are secured to the rock shaft 36 at each end and project downwardly and forwardly and carry the rod 34. The arms 43 project along the levers 35 and are provided with outwardly projecting pins 44 which are disposed in the transversely disposed slots 45 in the levers 35. A pair of springs 46 turned into eyes 47 at their forward. ends to embrace the rod 34 are secured by screws 48 to the underside of the bottomboard 8 and serve to hold the shaft 34 with its wheels 33 yieldingly downward, thus holding the nozzle 0 our improved vacuum elcaner slightly elevated, but so that the same will yield readily when pressure is applied to the operating handle. It will be seen that by this means the carrying wheels 33, while they are yielding, are adjustable through considerable limits, making it possible to adjust the same with accuracy to a great variety of carpets, varying from thin ingrain carpet to \Vilton carpets of deepest pile. If the user of the vacuum cleaner will talk pains to adjust the carrying wheels accurately for each particular piece of work, the spring, feature can be entirely dispensed with, and in Figs. VIII, IX and X we show a modification in which there is substituted for the rock shaft arms 43 a lever 35 which is rigidly secured to the rock shaft 36 and a rock shaft arm 49 is rigidly secured to the opposite end of the rock shaft 36, so that when the lever 35 isadjuSted the Same as the lever 35, the elevation of both the carrying wheels will also be definitely adjusted to just the right position for the particular'job of work required.

It is possible to modify the springs and in place of the preferred springs 46 we show 51 coiled upon the rock shaft 36 with its end 52 projectin to contact with the bottom of the case and its opposite'end 53 looped over the rod-34 to urge the same yieldingly downward. \Ve further bring attention to the fact that when spring action only is required, the rock shaft 36, the adjusting lever: 35 and their adjustinseam? ing means, and the brackets 37, 37, and all that they carry may be omitted, and the rod 34 be carried by the springs 46, only the eyes .47 serving to hold the same. A very effective structure is thus produced which is exceedingly economical of manufacture and by setting the springs 4:6 to the average conditions a very satisfactory suction cleaner for all ordinary uses produced. which adapts itself quite readily to the varying conditions.

We have described our invention in its most approved form but we are aware that our improved vacuum cleaner is capable of considerable modification without departing from the broad features of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination of a suitable casing provided with a suction nozzle toward the front thereof, carrying wheels tovard the front end of said casing revoluhle on the end. of a suitable axle beneath the same, a rock shaft beneath the Said casing, arms connecting said rock shaft to said axle, adjusting levers with suitable transverse slots therein, pins on said rock shaft arms extending into said slots, adjusting n'ieans on the side of said casing for ad just-ing said levers, and springs secured to the underside of said casing connecting to the said rod axles to urge the said carrying wheels iyieldingly downward, all coacting substantially as described for the purpose specified.

2. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination of a suitable casing provided with a suction nozzle toward the front thereof, carry ing wheels toward the front end of said cas ing revoluble on the end of a suitable axle BEST AVAILABLE C beneath the same, a rock shaft beneath the for the purpose specified.-

3. 111a vacuum cleaner, the combination of a suitable casing provided with a suction nozzle toward the front thereof, carrying Wheels toward. the front end of said casing revoluble on the end of a suitable axle leeneath the same, a rock shaft beneath the said casing, arms connecting said. rock shaft to said axle, an adjusting lever, and adjust ing means on the side of said casing for adjusting said lever, all coacting substantially as described for the purpose specified.

4. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination of a suitable casing provided with a suction. nozzle toward the front thereof, carrying Wheels toward the front endofsaid casingrevoluhle on the end of a suitable axle beneath the same, a reel; shaft beneath the said casing, arms connecting said rock shaft to said axle, and spring nicans to urge the said carrying wheels yieldingly downwardly, all enacting substantially as described for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and seals in the presence or two witnesses.

JOHN 1V. SHANAHAN. [1,. s.]

FRANCIS (3. MASON. \[nsfj l/Vitnesses:

JOHN A. Connms,

ELIZABETH C. Sonorrs. 

